Marcus Armstrong, who transitioned from Chip Ganassi Racing to Meyer Shank Racing for the 2025 IndyCar season, has secured a contract extension for 2026 after delivering his best performances to date. The New Zealand driver’s improved form with MSR has earned him a continued spot, highlighting a significant step forward in his IndyCar career.
From Challenging Beginnings at Chip Ganassi to Emergence at Meyer Shank
Armstrong initially struggled during his first two years in IndyCar with Chip Ganassi Racing, where he moved from Formula 2 in 2023. He finished 20th and 13th in the championship standings in 2023 and 2024, respectively, while his teammate Alex Palou captured the title. These seasons were marked by challenges as Armstrong adapted to the series.
With Meyer Shank Racing in 2025, Armstrong’s fortunes changed. Although he remains behind teammate Felix Rosenqvist in the rankings, Armstrong consistently delivered strong results, securing multiple top-10 finishes and demonstrating a clear upward trajectory in his performance.
Armstrong Reflects on His Growth and Goals for 2026
Following the announcement of his contract extension, Armstrong expressed his satisfaction and commitment to the team.
“I’m very pleased and grateful to be back with Meyer Shank Racing and my crew for 2026. The professionalism and attention to detail is a benchmark throughout the field and we have certainly improved with time together which has been great. We’ll look to build on our momentum and work hard to climb the points standings,”
he said.
Highlighting Armstrong’s Top Performances in the 2025 Season
Armstrong’s 2025 campaign includes several standout moments that have marked his progress and justified MSR’s confidence in him. At one event, he qualified impressively in P3 after advancing into the Fast 6, and made a strong start by moving up to P2 at the first turn. Despite this promising pace, caution flags disrupted his race, and he ultimately finished 14th.
At Road America, Armstrong qualified 15th but managed to rise from P20 early on despite difficulties in the initial laps. Adopting a four-stop pit strategy—uncommon among the top runners—he capitalized on this approach to finish the race in fifth place, the highest finisher on that tire strategy.
One of Armstrong’s most notable achievements came at Iowa Race 2, where he started 12th and progressed steadily into the top 10. After maintaining competitive lap times throughout the race, he benefited from a late crash involving Colton Herta and secured his first-ever podium finish with Meyer Shank Racing by placing second. Although Scott Dixon took over the P2 spot on the restart, Armstrong successfully defended against David Malukas to complete the race in the runner-up position.
Implications of Armstrong’s Contract Extension and Future Prospects
The decision by Meyer Shank Racing to extend Marcus Armstrong’s contract for 2026 reflects their belief in his potential and current momentum. His growth demonstrates how a change in environment and consistent teamwork can unlock a driver’s capabilities. Looking ahead, Armstrong and MSR will aim to build on these achievements to challenge higher in the championship standings and contend for podiums more regularly.